Canterbury

Canterbury's population increased by about 15,900 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 150,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Canterbury increased by 11.7%, from about 135,000 to 151,000.

The addition of just under 16,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Canterbury was home to, on average, 3.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Canterbury

Latest census data also show that the median age of Canterbury remained 39 years in the decade to 2011.

This area had a slightly lower average age than the South East and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 6,200 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 16.0% of people in Canterbury are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Canterbury by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Canterbury

Canterbury saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38.6%) people aged 16 and over in Canterbury said they were single, compared with 31.6% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 48.9% to 43.2%.

Across the region, only Portsmouth saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 36.4% to 43.5%).

During this period, Canterbury overtook Runnymede, Guildford and Slough to become the South East local authority area with the sixth-highest percentage of single people.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More students

The percentage of Canterbury residents that were studying increased from 4.2% to 7.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (44.0%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 46.7% in 2001. The percentage of Canterbury residents that were unemployed increased from 2.7% to 3.1%.

The proportion of students increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. As a result, this area had the region’s highest proportion of students.

The percentage of students in Canterbury increased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Canterbury, the South East and England that said they were in education, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

Canterbury saw the South East's largest rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Canterbury said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.8% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 14.6% to 10.8%.

Across the region, Southampton saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week (from 2.5% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 2.1% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Canterbury increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Canterbury, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Canterbury

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Canterbury was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.9 points.

In 2011, 31.0% of respondents in Canterbury gave this religion on the census compared with 18.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Newham, 65.4% said they were Christian, compared with 79.6% in 2001. About 0.2% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.7% to 8.5%.

In Canterbury, 7.9% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 8.0% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Canterbury increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Canterbury by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Canterbury

The percentage of Canterbury residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.0% to 6.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.9% in 2001. The percentage of Canterbury residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89.7%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Canterbury that rented privately increased from 12.9% to 19.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12.4%, while the percentage of Canterbury households that owned their home decreased from 72.1% to 66.0%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Canterbury increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Canterbury, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Canterbury residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.9% to 5.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.5%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67.6% in 2001. The percentage of Canterbury residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.6% to 13.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Canterbury decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Canterbury, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Canterbury

In 2011, 3.4% of Canterbury residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 1.5% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 93.0% of people in Canterbury said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 96.6% in 2001. About 1.7% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.5% to 1.3%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Canterbury increased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Canterbury by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Canterbury, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.4% to 9.4% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.5%) households had a married couple, compared with 34.3% in 2001. The percentage of households in Canterbury, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.9% to 9.1%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Canterbury with children decreased from 26.7% to 26.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (65.9%) households had no children, compared with 65.4% in 2001. The percentage of households in Canterbury with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.9% to 8.1%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.2%). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Canterbury residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Canterbury remained close to 1.2%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Canterbury by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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